Refractive Index
Reference from the original Physics I textbook.
- Refractive Index
Explains how light waves move through different mediums. Each medium has a different refractive index, therefore light will behave differently depending on the medium it is in.
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Glossary and deeper reading · 1 refreshers
These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.
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Refractive index
Refractive index is the ratio of light’s speed in vacuum to its speed in the material at the relevant frequency. It is dimensionless and can depend on wavelength. For example, glass usually has a larger refractive index than air, so visible light travels more slowly through the glass.